José María Balcázar elected Peru’s new interim president 19. February 2026 (14:52) Octogenarian leftist, who has defended child marriage, replaces Jose Jeri, who was voted out after a scandalPeru’s congress elected José María Balcázar, an octogenarian leftist lawmaker who has defended child marriage, as the country’s new interim president on Wednesday ahead of general elections in April. Balcazar is Peru’s ninth president since 2016.The surprise election, in which Balcázar beat the favourite, conservative lawmaker María del Carmen Alva, came after lawmakers voted to remove his predecessor José Jerí, on Tuesday, after just four months in office, due to a scandal over secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Horse meat set to be banned in Italy amid draft equine bill 19. February 2026 (14:52) Law defines animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets and is backed by opposition partiesItaly could soon be set to ban horse meat as part of a law that would define equine animals including horses, donkeys and mules as pets, therefore making it illegal to kill them.The bill has been drafted by Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a politician with Noi Moderati, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, and is backed by opposition parties. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested: King Charles says ‘law must take its course’ as ex-prince taken into custody – live 19. February 2026 (14:48) The police raided Andrew’s Norfolk home on ThursdayFull report: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrestedWhat we know so far as King Charles III’s brother arrestedBefore the arrest was announced, the prime minister told BBC Breakfast “nobody is above the law” when asked about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.Keir Starmer added:Anybody who has any information should testify.So whether it’s Andrew or anybody else, anybody who has got relevant information should come forward to whatever the relevant body is, in this particular case we’re talking about Epstein, but there are plenty of other cases. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dual nationals could use expired UK passports to prove they are British, Home Office says 19. February 2026 (14:03) Carriers could accept expired passport ‘at their own discretion’, Home Office says, as new rules imminentUK politics live – latest updatesBritish dual nationals may be able to use expired UK passports to prove to airlines they are British when controversial new immigration rules come into force, the Home Office has said.The new rules, coming into force next Wednesday, require anyone coming into the UK with British dual nationality to present a British passport when boarding a plane, ferry or train or to have a “certificate of entitlement” costing £589 attached to their foreign passport. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 1,000 Kenyans lured to fight for Russia in Ukraine war, report says 19. February 2026 (14:01) Intelligence findings read to parliament say ‘rogue’ agencies and individuals recruiting Kenyan nationals to frontlineMore than 1,000 Kenyans have been lured to fight for Russia in its war with Ukraine, according to an intelligence report to the Kenyan parliament that highlights the scale of a Russian operation taking African men to the frontline.The majority leader of Kenya’s national assembly, Kimani Ichung’wah, said “rogue recruitment agencies and individuals in Kenya” were continuing to send Kenyan nationals to fight in the conflict, as he read MPs the summary of an investigation by Kenya’s National Intelligence Service. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Airbus suggests split solution for Europe’s faltering fighter jet programme 19. February 2026 (13:37) Aerospace firm proposes two separate warplanes amid dispute over who leads €100bn projectAirbus has suggested splitting Europe’s faltering future fighter jet programme into two separate warplanes, amid a dispute between manufacturers over who leads the €100bn (£87bn) project.The company’s defence arm – which represents Germany and Spain – and the French partner, Dassault Aviation, are locked in a battle over the jet part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a wide-ranging project that will also include autonomous drones and a futuristic “combat communications cloud”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rights groups urge airlines to halt ‘one in, one out’ deportation flights 19. February 2026 (13:29) British and French activists write to Air France, AlbaStar, Titan and Corendon airlines over ‘shameful involvement’Campaigners have urged airlines deporting asylum seekers to France as part of the UK’s controversial “one in, one out” scheme to stop facilitating the “cruel and forced deportations”.Letters have been sent by 28 refugee and human rights NGOs on both sides of the Channel to four airlines believed to be involved with deportation flights – Air France, Titan airways, AlbaStar airlines and Corendon airlines – urging them to halt what signatories call “shameful involvement” with the flights. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Starmer appoints Antonia Romeo as Britain’s first female cabinet secretary – UK politics live 19. February 2026 (12:02) The appointment follows allegations she was previously spoken to about her management styleAlex Davies-Jones, a justice minister, has said the government wants to pass the legislation implementing the Chagos Islands deal as soon as it can – despite Presidient Trump’s lastest diatribe about it. (See 9.34am.)Davies-Jones was giving interviews this morning and she told Times Radio:This deal is essential and crucial for the national security of the United Kingdom and that is the first priority of any government.We will be bringing the bill back as soon as parliamentary time allows, because this is about national security. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested at Sandringham estate 19. February 2026 (12:02) Former prince arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public officeAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested – live updatesAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office by police investigating the former prince’s dealings with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Photographs of unmarked police cars and plainclothes officers at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate emerged just after 8am on Thursday. Mountbatten-Windsor has been living at Wood Farm for almost three weeks after leaving the Royal Lodge in Windsor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We are the forgotten little town’: will disenchantment in Denton leave it ripe for Reform? 19. February 2026 (12:00) With Gorton split between Labour and Greens, division creates opportunity for Farage’s party in other side of constituency facing byelectionIf you’re unsure whether you’ve crossed the border from Manchester into Tameside, the Reform posters will probably give it away. In windows, on walls, and staked on garden posts, Denton is awash with turquoise blue as the 26 February byelection looms.Near the town centre, Ian Singleton and his wife, Irene, have one of Reform’s turquoise banners standing proudly in their front yard. Ian was born in Gorton, in Manchester, but for the best part of the last three decades, the couple have lived on the other side of the constituency, in Denton. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
